Stanley files complaint over leaks

NEW BRITAIN -- Stanley Works says somebody leaked confidential information about the company over the Internet earlier this month, and now they're using legal maneuvers to find the culprit.

JOE McGEE andSCOTT WHIPPLE

Published 12:00 am, Tuesday, August 1, 2000

The company has filed a civil complaint at New Britain Superior Court asking for a court order against Yahoo! Inc. of Santa Clara, Calif., because the Internet provider won't release the identity of GOLFER2072. Someone using that screen name posted something about Stanley's quarterly earnings on the Yahoo! message board July 18.

Who Stanley believes that person may be, or what they released to Internet users, is unknown. A check of the Yahoo! site Friday showed only two postings dated July 18, but neither was the posting named in the lawsuit; a review of messages from the past several months showed no postings by GOLFER2072.

The company would not comment. However, the complaint does stipulate that the release of confidential information breaches a lengthy code of conduct for employees, a copy of which is attached to the suit.

Although a Yahoo! representative could not be reached, its Web site states that user identities will only be released if they are forced to do so under subpoena or court order.

Stanley's attorney would not comment on specifics of the case but said the type of suit filed by Stanley is necessary for corporations in the Internet age.

"These types of discovery proceedings have been very necessary for public companies, in general, in the Internet age because of the anonymity of the postings. There's no way for a company to protect against disclosure of confidential information and trade secrets without proceeding this way. To get the identity there's no way to insure that type of information won't be disclosed," said Hartford lawyer James Veltrop.

Veltrop also said that he sees this situation becoming more and more common with a number of companies.

"I would venture to guess that most public companies have found it necessary to avail themselves of these types of discovery procedures," Veltrop said.